Lock assembly for sliding panels



July 15, 1969 v. HEWITT LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR SLIDING PANELS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1965 \N mm I N VEN TOR.

Zw V. Haw/ff IN\NN\N\ 1% BY Z m, AMA-wk A 7708/1/5 VJ July 15, 1969 v. HEWITT 3,455,058

LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR SLIDING PANELS Filed Oct. 19, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lew I V. Haw/ff INVENTUR.

BY A W,KWM*

ATTORNEY! July 15, 1969 L. v. HEWITT 3,455,058

LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR SLIDING ANELS Filed Oct. 15. 1555 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 e W V. //e w/ ft INVENTOR.

BY VJ ited States U.S. Cl. 49-280 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lock assembly for a sliding panel or door or the like It includes first operator means which are arranged to both unlock and move the panel to the open position. Certain embodiments also include second operator means to unlock and open the panel when the first operator means is inoperative for some reason.

This invention relates to a lock assembly forsliding panels. More particularly, this invention relates to an automatic lock assembly for sliding panels whereby the panels may be automatically locked and unlocked substantially simultaneously with either the opening or closing thereof, and in which the panel is locked in either the closed or open position.

In providing a lock assembly for sliding panels, it is desirable to have one which will sustain repeated operation without malfunctioning. Moreover, it is important to have one which will be safe from unauthorized opening or closing. This is particularly true when the sliding panel is a door, such as a door on a safe or a cell or the like.

None of the prior art devices provide locks for sliding panels or doors which are sufliciently safe and dependable as is the instant invention. The prior art has not provided an automatic lock assembly which operates substantially simultaneously with the opening or closing of the door panel.

It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide an improved lock assembly for sliding panels which will overcome the aforesaid shortcomings of the prior art and provide a solution to the foregoing problems.

Briefly stated, one form of this invention for a lock assembly for sliding panels comprises a latch means operably connected to the sliding panel for horizontal movement therewith. There is also provided retaining means which normally engage the latch means to thereby secure the panel in a locked position. Cam means are provided which are supported for engagement with the latch means and are for the purpose of camming the latch means to the unlocked position upon actuation thereof.

In certain forms of the invention, operator means are also included which are connected to the cam means and to the panel, and are for actuating the cam means to thereby unlock the latch means and to slide the panel to the new position.

For purposes of convenience, the locked position for the latch means will generally be described as the closed position for the panel and similarly the unlocked position for the latch means will be described as the open position for the panel. However, it will be understood that these could be reversed, with the locked position of the cam means being the open position for the door and the unlocked position of the latch means being the closed position for the door. Stated another way, the latch means of this invention is equally adaptable to accomplish locking of the panel in the open position. In addition, the locked position for the latch means may sometimes be referred to as the normal position.

Further, the terms horizontal and vertical, up and down, above and below and the like are to be construed to be relative to a work surface.

Reference to the drawings will further explain the invention wherein like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of one form of the lock assembly of this invention, showing the lock assembly in the locked position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan View taken at line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary back elevation view of the lock assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the lock assembly in the unlocked position and the panel in the open position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view taken at line 55 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1, sliding panel 11 has secured on the upper end thereof two hanger bars 12, which are secured thereto by welding or other means. Each of the hanger bars 12 is provided with an elongate slot 13 near the upper end thereof through each of which passes a hanger bolt 14, which is connected to horizontal frame 15 which forms part of the dolly carriage for sliding the panel 11 horizontally. Each of the frames 15 is supported by two wheels 16 connected thereto by axle bolts 17. Wheels 16 are adapted for running on a track assembly which will be explained hereinafter. The lower end of sliding panel 11 is supported on rollers 28 which run on lower track 29.

The right horizontal frame 15 as viewed in FIG. 1 is provided with a horizontal frame extension 18 which provides a yoke for passage of vertically aligned lock bar 19 downward therethrough. The right horizontal frame 15, as viewed in FIG. 1, is also secured to an upstanding member in form of operator arm 20 which is secured thereto by an axle bolt 17 and an additional bolt 21. Operator arm 20 is provided with an enlarged upper end in the form of operator arm extension 22 and is spaced apart therefrom so as to provide a recess therebetween, in which recess cam frame 23 is adapted for horizontal sliding movement relative thereto within predetermined limits.

The upper ends of operator arm 20' and operator arm extension 22 is provided with a horizontal upper cross bar 24 therebetween which limits the upper movement of cam frame 23. Cross bar 24 has connected thereto by bolts 27 parallel bar 25 of similar dimensions, but which is provided with slot 26 for receiving therein the upper end lock bar 19.

Operator arm extension 22 also has attached thereto a lower cross bar 41 by means of bolt 42 and is adapted to support the underside of cam frame 23, thus completing the housing within which cam frame 23 is adapted for horizontal sliding movement relative thereto. This space within which cam frame 23 is adapted for horizontal sliding movement is comprised of operator 2*!) and operator arm extension 22 on each side thereof, upper cross bar 24 at the top end thereof and lower cross bar 41 at the lower end thereof.

The left end of cam frame 23 as viewed in FIG. 1, is connected to piston rod 43 by means of connector 44. Piston rod 43 is connected to piston 45 which is adapted for horizontal movement in air cylinder 46 which may sometimes be referred to as the operator.

Cylinder 46 has attached thereto switch mount 47 which supports limit switch 49 which is provided with contact arm 51. Another limit switch 48 having contact arm 50 is mounted adjacent thereto and supported by any convenient means (not shown).

Switch mount 47 has passing therethrough and supports actuator rod 52 which is provided with a lug 54 on 3 the right end thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the right end of actuator rod 52 as viewed in FIG. 1 is attached to the end of cam frame 23 as by means of connector bolt 55.

It is to be understood that the operator means of this invention which includes piston rod 43, piston 45 and cylinder 46 are old in the art and may take many different forms, as for example the operator taught in U.S. Patent No. 3,149,536. The preferred embodiment is to have a pneumatically operated operator which, by the appropriate application of air pressure to opposite sides of piston 45, will cause piston 45 to move back and forth in cylinder 46. This air pressure may conveniently be provided from an appropriate air tank having a maintained pressure, with the application of air to opposite sides of piston 45 being controlled by appropriate switching devices as is well known in the art, when it is desired to open or close sliding panel 11.

Cam frame 23 is provided with an angular slot which forms two cam means in the form of lower camming surface 61 and upper camming surface 62 in which is supported front roller 63, which is mounted on pin 64, which in turn passes through lock bar 19 and which has supported on the rearward side thereof back roller 65 as best seen in FIG. 3. v

Back roller 65 is held in the locked position by retainer means in the form of lock runner 71, the end of which provides an abutment against which roller 65 bears in the locked position to prevent horizontal movement of back roller 65 and hence locks panel 11 in the locked or closed position. Lock runner 71 also presents an upper supporting surface on which roller 65 is adapted to run when the sliding panel is moved to the open position as shown in FIG. 4, as will be explained hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, the lower end of lock bar 19 is adapted to extend downwardly into lower retaining means in the form of lock bar retaining slot 72 provided in lower track 29. It is to be understood that such retaining means could be provided at any place below the top of sliding panel 11 so as to provide two locking points for panel 11.

Referring now to FIG. 3, additional operator means in the form of manual release means are shown which conveniently takes the form of horizontal extending release arm 73 having an upstanding portion 74 which supports a pin in the form of release finger 75 which is adapted to abut against the end of cam frame 23, as best seen in FIG. 2.

The opposite end of release arm 73 is connected to lock runner 71 for sliding engagement therewith by means of bolts 76 which pass through slot 77 in lock runner 71 and connect thereto on the opposite side to plate 78.

Release arm 73 is also provided with release arm extension 79 to which is connected a cable 80 which in turn is connected to means such as a lever assembly or the like (not shown) for pulling on cable 80. The purpose of release arm 73 is to provide means for manually unlocking the lock mechanism of the sliding panel in case of non-operation of piston rod 43 and piston 45.

Referring now to FIG. 5, sliding panel 11 is supported on the upper end by wheels 16 as explained above. Wheels 16 are adapted to ride upon nylon cap 87 mounted on upstanding track 88 which is supported on the depending flange of inverted L-shaped track member 89.

The horizontal leg of track member 89 is provided with a longitudinal slot 90 through which operator arm 20 and lock bar 19 extend. The depending leg of track member 89 is also provided with depending portion 91 which supports felt strip 92 for sealing engagement with panel 11.

The rest of the operator housing is comprised of an enclosed housing having top portion 93, side portion 94 and bottom portion 95 which in turn has an upstanding flange 96 which abuts the depending leg of track member 89. The opposite side of the housing is provided with 4; access member 97 which is secured to the balance of the housing as by screws or the like (not shown) whereby ready access may be had to the operating parts of the lock assembly and panel support means.

In operation, sliding panel 11 and the lock assembly may initially be in a position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5. Rollers 28 will be supporting panel 11 on the lower side and wheels 16 will be supporting panel 11 on the upper side. The latch means, including front roller 63, will be retained in the locked position by means of the end of lock runner 73, which abuts against back roller 65.

The lower end of lock bar 19 will be retained in lock bar retaining slot 72 provided in lower tract 28, thereby providing two locking points for panel 11.

When it is desired to unlock the locking mechanism and to move or slide panel 11 horizontally, air pressure is applied to the back side of piston 45 in operator air cylinder 46 whereby piston rod 43 is driven to the right as shown in FIG. 1, which causes cam frame 23 to move in the same direction, which causes lower camming surface 61 to cam front roller 63 upward, carrying with it back roller 65 until back roller 65 clears the top surface of lock runner 71. As cam frame 23 is carried to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, the movement thereof is relative to operator arm 20 and operator arm extension 22. As cam frame 23 is carried to the right, connector 44 strikes operator arm 20 and operator arm extension 22 and carried them to the position shown in FIG. 4.

Since actuator rod 52 is attached to cam frame 23, it likewise will be carried to the right in the same manner until actuator rod 52 clears contact arm 50 of limit switch 48, causing limit switch 48 to terminate application of air to piston 45, thereby terminating the movement of panel 11 to the right.

Lock bar 19 is raised simultaneously with the upward camming of front roller 63, thereby unlocking the lower end of lock bar 19 from the retaining slot 72. Lock bar 19, and rollers 63 and 65 are moved upward relative to panel 11, hence it may be stated that the latch means in the form of front roller 63, pin 64 and back roller 65 are adapted for vertically reciprocal movement relative to panel 11, and yet are adapted for horizontal move ment therewith.

Connector 44 is so arranged in relation to earn frame 23 such that it contacts operator arm 20 and operator arm extension 22, to carry those two elements along simultaneously during the horizontal movement when contact is made therewith when front roller 63 has been cammed upward to the unlocked position. Hence, cam frame 23 may be described as being adaptable for relative movement with respect to operator arm 20 and eX- tension 22 within predetermined limits.

When it is desirable to move panel 11 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 and to place the lock assembly in the locked position, air pressure may be applied to the forward side of piston 45 through air line 81 to drive it to the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. In so doing, back roller 65 will continue to be supported by the top edge of lock runner 71 until back roller 65 reaches the end of lock runner 71, at which point upper camming surface 62 will force front roller 63 and hence back roller 65 downwardly to the locked position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5. The termination of movement of piston rod 43 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 is controlled by limit switch 49. When lug 54 strikes arm 51 of switch 49 air pressure is terminated to piston 45 and the locking is completed.

If for any reason piston 45 and rod 43 are non-operable, then the lock assembly can be unlocked by pulling on cable 80, which in turn causes release arm 73 to be moved relative to cam frame 23 such that release finger engages the end of cam frame 23 which thereby cams front roller 63 and back roller 65 upward until back roller 65 clears the end of lock runner 71, whereby the lock assembly is then unlocked and panel 11 may he slid or moved horizontally by hand or other means. This is a safety feature which permits unlocking of the lock assembly in case of non-operation or malfunction of piston 45 and piston rod 43. In addition, since lock bar 19 can only be engaged by operation of upper camming surface 62 of cam frame 23, panel 11 may not be relocked except by operation of piston 45 and piston rod 43. This eifectively prevents locking by anyone other than persons authorized to cause operation of piston 45 and associated elements.

Hence, the art is provided with a novel lock assembly for sliding panels which is automatic, which has means for both unlocking the panel and for sliding the panel horizontally. Hence, the panel may be locked in either the closed or open position. It is reliable because of simplicity of construction and operation and will not malfunction easily. It provides a desirable type sliding panel and lock assembly which has not heretofore been available to the art. It provides a sliding panel which can be used for closing and locking safes, prison cells and the like and which is safe against unauthorized operation.

Further modifications may be made in the invention as particularly described without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed as illustratively only and is not to be construed as limitation upon the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. A lock assembly for a sliding panel comprising: a generally upstanding member attached to the upper end of the panel for horizontal movement therewith,

cam means connected to the upstanding member for horizontal sliding movement therewith within predetermined limits, with the cam means having upward and downward camming surfaces,

vertically reciprocating latch means carried by the cam means for upward and downward movement by the camming surfaces of the cam means,

vertically extending locking means connected to the latch means for vertical movement therewith and engaging one end of the panel in sliding relationship therewith,

retaining means normall engaging the latch means when the latch means is cammed in a vertical direction by the cam means to thereby secure the panel in the locked position, and

powered operator means operably connected to the cam means and to the upstanding member for first moving the cam means relative to the upstanding member and the latch means whereby the latch means is cammed to the unlocked position, and for then sliding the panel.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the locking means extends below the top of the panel,

and including second retaining means mounted below the top of the panel for receiving the lower end of the locking means in locking relationship when the latch means is cammed to the locked position, whereby the panel is provided with two lock points.

3. The apparatus as clamed in claim 1 wherein:

the latch means includes a first roller carried by the cam means, and a second roller which is engaged by the retaining means in the locked position.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including:

second operator means mounted for engagement with the cam means for moving the cam means to the unlocked position when the first operator means is non-operable.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

the retaining means includes a horizontal bar, one end of which engages the second roller in the locked position, and the top side of which supports the second roller in the unlocked position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,506,699 8/ 1924 Watson. 2,058,163 10/1936 Malone 292-170 X 2,686,577 8/1954 Hoppenjans 292187 X 556,572 3/ 1896 Bataille. 3,082,847 3/1963 Young.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner JOHN R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 49-360; 292 

